Every year, thousands of cyclists are injured on Long Island and New York City roads hit by distracted drivers, doored by parked cars, or thrown by dangerous road conditions. When that happens to you or someone you love, the physical pain, the medical bills, and the confusion about what to do next can feel completely overwhelming.
At the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, we have been representing injured cyclists on Long Island for over 28 years. We know New York’s bicycle accident laws inside and out, and we know how insurance companies try to minimize what they pay. Our job is to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
Call (516) 280-7311 or contact us online for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Bicycle Accidents on Long Island: The Scope of the Problem
New York is one of the most active cycling cities in the world. According to the NYC Department of Transportation, 5,158 bicyclists were injured across New York City in 2023 alone and that figure does not include the substantial number of crashes occurring on Nassau and Suffolk County roads. Cyclists account for a growing share of commuters, recreational riders, and delivery workers on Long Island roads, and the infrastructure has not always kept pace with that growth.
Cyclists have no metal shell protecting them. In any collision with a motor vehicle regardless of speed the cyclist absorbs the full force of impact against pavement or against the vehicle itself. The resulting injuries are frequently severe: traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, fractures, and internal bleeding. Even crashes at low speeds can cause injuries that require months of recovery and significant medical expense.
New York law gives injured cyclists the right to pursue compensation. But the legal process for a bicycle accident claim is more complex than most people realize and the steps you take (and don’t take) in the days immediately after a crash can significantly affect what you’re able to recover.
What Causes Bicycle Accidents?
Many factors can cause bicycle accidents. Several examples include:
- Speeding—Excessive speed is one of the most common causes of a cycling accident. Speeding drivers have less time as they approach and respond to cyclists. Cars also need more space to come to a stop.
- Weather—Everyone has had the unpleasant experience of driving into the setting sun. Rain, snow, ice, and wind also contribute to accidents by decreasing visibility and the vehicle’s (and bicycle’s) ability to maneuver.
- Aggressive behavior—Out-of-control drivers can get “road rage” toward cyclists or feel upset that cyclists are in “their” space, leading to terrible results.
- Vehicle blind spots—Although many newer vehicles have cameras and sensors that attempt to keep the driver informed of their surroundings, they can still have large blind spots. Furthermore, drivers often have no way of hearing cyclists amid the noisy background of the city.
- Construction zones—Construction zones often have rough or incomplete road surfaces and heavy equipment that blocks some or all of the roadway. At other times, detour paths can introduce new and unfamiliar hazards that trip up drivers and cyclists.
These are just a few potential causes of bicycle accidents. Almost all accidents result from an interplay of several of these factors.
Because so many factors can be at play in one accident, a Long Island bicycle accident lawyer can be invaluable for collecting evidence and piecing together the full story.
What Are Some Common Bicycle Accident Scenarios?
Some bicycle accidents are more common than others. Here are a few common scenarios that we see the most.
#1 – Side Swipes
In New York, bicyclists must generally ride on the street rather than the sidewalks. As a result, they are constantly in very close proximity to vehicles, which can lead to sideswiping.
Sideswipes often occur when a vehicle fails to give the bicyclist enough room to pass.
This can lead to bicyclists being struck by the vehicle’s side-view mirrors or by items sticking out of the vehicle’s window.
#2 – Left/Right Crosses
Left cross and right cross accidents refer to a situation where a motorist crosses in front of a cyclist at an intersection or roadway.
When this happens, it’s simply impossible for the cyclist to avoid hitting the vehicle.
Left-cross accidents are more common than right-crosses, even though vehicles drive on the right side of the road.
In fact, left-cross accidents are so dangerous that the New York City Department of Transportation launched a special study to address it.
#3 – Failure to Yield
Under New York law, drivers must grant cyclists the same privileges and rights as other vehicles. Despite that, stressed and busy motorists recklessly fail to give cyclists the right-of-way.
Common locations involving failure to yield accidents include interactions and roundabouts.
#4 – Rear-End Collisions
Whether because of distracted driving or speeding, motorists regularly rear-end cyclists. The impact usually pushes the cyclist forward, throwing them off of their bike.
These kinds of accidents are often severe and can be fatal. In many situations, the cyclist can be run over by the car or fall back and tumble over the car.
What to Do Immediately After a Long Island Bicycle Accident
The steps you take in the hours and days following a crash protect both your health and the strength of your legal claim:
1. Call 911. Even if your injuries seem minor, get police to the scene. A police report creates an official record of the crash, identifies the at-fault driver, and documents witness information. In New York, you must report an accident involving injury or property damage over $1,000.
2. Seek medical attention immediately. Do not wait to see if you feel worse. TBI, internal injuries, and spinal injuries may not produce obvious symptoms right away. A gap between the accident and your first medical visit is one of the first things insurance companies use to argue your injuries were not serious.
3. Document everything at the scene. Photograph the driver’s vehicle, license plate, and insurance card. Photograph your bicycle, your injuries, skid marks, road conditions, and any traffic signals or signage relevant to the crash. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
4. Do not give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize your claim. You are not required to give a recorded statement. Politely decline and contact an attorney first.
5. File a no-fault claim promptly. You have 30 days from the accident to file a no-fault claim with the at-fault vehicle’s insurance carrier. Missing this deadline can jeopardize your immediate medical coverage.
6. Contact a bicycle accident attorney. Evidence disappears fast surveillance footage is often overwritten within days, witness memories fade, and road conditions change. An attorney can immediately begin preserving evidence and protecting your rights.
Common Injuries in Long Island Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accident injuries are often severe precisely because cyclists have no protective barrier between their body and the road, other vehicles, or fixed objects. The injuries we most commonly see in bicycle accident cases include:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is the leading cause of cyclist fatalities and permanent disability. Even a helmeted cyclist can suffer a concussion, brain contusion, or intracranial bleed in a serious crash. Symptoms may not be immediately apparent headaches, cognitive fog, memory problems, and personality changes can emerge days or weeks after the accident. If your head struck the pavement, a vehicle, or any hard surface, seek emergency evaluation immediately regardless of how you feel.
Spinal cord injuries. A violent collision can fracture vertebrae or damage the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete paralysis. Spinal injuries often require immediate surgery, lengthy hospitalization, and lifelong medical support.
Fractures. Broken collarbones, wrists, arms, hips, legs, and pelvic bones are extremely common. Cyclists instinctively try to break a fall with their hands and arms, which frequently results in complex wrist and forearm fractures. Many fractures require surgery and months of physical therapy before full function is restored.
Internal injuries. Handlebar impact during a crash can cause blunt trauma to the abdomen, resulting in organ damage, splenic rupture, liver lacerations, or punctured lungs. Internal injuries can be life-threatening and are not always visible on initial examination.
Road rash. When a cyclist slides across pavement, the friction strips skin and tissue from the body. Severe road rash requires wound care, can result in permanent scarring and disfigurement, and in some cases requires skin grafting.
Soft tissue injuries. Torn ligaments, muscle tears, and sprains particularly to the knee, shoulder, and neck are common and often dismissed by insurance companies as “minor.” For many cyclists, soft tissue injuries cause months of pain and functional limitation that significantly affect their ability to work and live normally.
Any of these injuries may qualify as a “serious injury” under New York law, which is the legal threshold required to pursue a full personal injury lawsuit and recover pain and suffering damages. More on that below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for a Long Island bicycle accident claim?
If your injuries are serious fractures, TBI, spinal damage, significant time lost from work yes, having an experienced attorney is strongly advisable. Insurance companies handle thousands of claims per year. You are handling one. An attorney levels that playing field, knows how to document and prove serious injury threshold, and typically recovers significantly more than unrepresented claimants
What if the driver who hit me doesn’t have insurance?
You may still have options. If you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy, that coverage may apply. Your attorney can also investigate whether any other parties bear liability and pursue all available avenues of recovery.
The driver claims I was at fault. Can I still recover?
Yes. New York’s pure comparative negligence rule allows you to recover even if you were partly responsible for the crash. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault you are not barred from recovery entirely.
Can I sue if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Helmet use is not legally required for adults in New York. The absence of a helmet may be raised by the defense as a contributing factor to the severity of head injuries, but it does not automatically bar your claim or eliminate your right to compensation.
What if my bicycle accident was caused by a pothole or bad road conditions?
You may have a claim against the municipality responsible for maintaining the road. These cases require filing a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident, which is why contacting an attorney quickly is essential if road conditions contributed to your crash.
How long will my bicycle accident case take?
It depends on the complexity of the case and the severity of your injuries. Cases that settle through negotiation can resolve in months. Cases that go to trial in New York typically take one to three years. Your attorney will give you a realistic timeline based on the specifics of your situation.
Contact Our New York Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
Having the right attorney can make all the difference in your case. When hiring an attorney, consider New York bicycle accident attorney at The Law Office of Theodore A. Naima.
These kinds of attorneys are familiar with the common patterns of fact in bicycle cases. They also know what evidence to look for and how to collect it.
Finally, they have experience negotiating with the negligent party and insurance companies.
Despite these obvious advantages, bike accidents are not handled by many law firms. But we’re not just any other law firm.
At the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, we have been helping cyclists who have been the victims of reckless drivers and careless pedestrians for over 20 years.
We know that the financial, emotional, and physical effects of a NY bicycle accident can be serious. Contact us online or call us at (516) 280-7311 to set up your free initial consultation today.